WIT kept alive their title defence with a four-point extra-time win over luckless CIT this afternoon.

CIT led 0-17 to 1-13 when John O’Dwyer missed a free on 69 minutes. Austin Gleeson and Gavin O’Brien tallied two white flags in quick succession to hand WIT the advantage at the immediate change of ends.

The champions continue to drove forward with Gleeson and Pauric Mahony stretching their lead to three. Daire Lordan responded for CIT, but no closer would they come – Mahony, Gleeson and substitute Johnny Hayes closing out a contest that was level on no fewer than 10 occasions.

Cian Buckley’s third point of the contest had initially recused CIT on 58 minutes, sending the game to extra-time.

CIT had dominated the early exchanges in the second-half – John O’Dwyer, John Cronin, Conor Hammersley and Buckley hitting four points on the hop.

Austin Gleeson, set-up by Martin O’Neill, reignited WIT’s challenge on 43 minutes. The accuracy of O’Brien and Mahony ensured the champions kept their noses in front, caught at the death by Buckley’s long-range point.

The teams returned to the dressing room tied at 0-7 apiece, the curtain raiser level on five occasions in the opening period.

Pauric Mahony, Gavin O’Brien and Austin Gleeson were on the mark for WIT, Cian Buckley John Cronin, John O’Dwyer and Kevin Kavanagh on the scoresheet for WIT.

Scorers for Cork IT: J O’Dwyer (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ’65); C Buckley (0-3); A Walsh, J Cronin, B Cooper, D Lordan (0-1 free), N McNamara (0-2 each); K Kavanagh (0-1).

Scorers for Waterford IT: A Gleeson (1-6, 0-1 sc); P Mahony (0-8, 0-5 frees, 0-1 ’65); G O’Brien (0-4); J Dillon, J Hayes (0-1 each).

CIT: G Minihane (Courcey Rovers); S Murphy (Blackrock), A Dennehy (Charleville), T Lawrence (Brian Dillons); J Herlihy (Newtownshandrum), M Ellis (Millstreet), C Buckley (Na Piarsaigh); C Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore), W Murphy (Meelin); B Cooper (Youghal), J Cronin (Lisgoold), A Walsh (Kanturk); N McNamara (Kilworth), K Kavanagh (Carrigaline), J O’Dwyer (Killenaule).

Subs: M Russell (Aghada) for W Murphy (38 mins), P White (Midleton) for McNamara (47), J Coughlan (Newtownshandrum) for Kavanagh (54), D Lordan (Courcey Rovers) for Hammersley (70).

WIT: D Stapleton (Limerick); T Fox (Tipperary), G Teehan (Kilkenny), J Maher (Waterford); T Hamill (Tipperary), M O’Neill (Waterford), O McGrath (Kilkenny); J Langton (Kilkenny), S Roche (Waterford); G O’Brien (Waterford), P Mahony (Waterford), H Kehoe (Wexford); L McGrath (Tipperary), J Dillon (Waterford), A Gleeson (Waterford).

Subs: J Hayes (Kilkenny) for L McGrath (50 mins), S O’Neill (Waterford) for O McGraty (60), G Malone (Kilkenny) for O’Brien (76), E Ryan (Offaly) for Kehoe (79), P Campion (Kilkenny) for Dillon (80.

Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).